Circuit-interrupter



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APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18. H6.

1,384,442. Patented July 12, 1921.

/ WITNESSES INVENTOR Charles L9 (5. Forfescua ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT QFFlCE.

CHARLES LE e. ron'rEscUE, or rirrsnnncrr, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 1 0 WEST- rnerrousn ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION or PENN- SYLVANIA.

CIRCUIT-INTERRUPTER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CrIAnLns Ln G. Fonriisonn, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement 1n Cirouit-lnterrupters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to circuit inter rupters and particularly to circuit interrupters of the oil-insulated type. One object of my invention is to provide a circuit interrupter of the above indicated character that shall be adapted to have contact members of such shape and material that resistance shall be gradually inserted when the interrupter is opened to limit the rush of current incident to the opening of the same. l

Another object of my invention is to provide a circuit interrupter of the above indicated character having substantially-annular rotatable contact members that are adapted to preclude the displacement of the when the interrupter is operated.

Heretofore, considerable trouble has been encountered because of the high pressures that are incident to the displacement of the oil in circuit interrupters during the operation of the same. In view of the above, I provide two substantially cylindrical insulating members having portions of the surfaces thereof cut away to receive contact members of substantially spiral shape that are adapted to cooperate for the pur pose of opening a circuit with a minimum sparking and without the necessity of dis placing the insulating fluid.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front view, partially in section and partially in elevation, of a circuit interrupter embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a top view, partially in section and partially in elevation, of the interrupter shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a detail view of the cooperating contact members shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A circuit interrupter embodying my invention comprises, in general, an oil-containing receptacle 1, two substantially cylindrical cooperating members 2 and 3-, an operating spring 4, an. operating lever arm or handle 5 and a latching device 6.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J l 12 1921 Application filed November 18, 1916.

Serial No. 132,087.

The members 2 and 3 aremounted on shafts 7 and 8, respectively, and are adapted to be turned in opposite directions by either the movement of the operating handle 5 or the contraction of the spring 4:. The members 2 and 3 are constructed of insulating material having portions thereof cut away to receive conducting members 9 and 10, substantially as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The members 9 and 10 are adapted to be of such shape that the contours of the members 2 and 8 are substantially, circular, thus precluding displacement of the oil in the receptacle 1 when they are actuated. The members 9 and 10 are of such varying cross-sectional area that, as they are turned to the positions shown in Fig. 3, a relatively high resistance is gradually inserted to preclude the excessive arcing incident to the opening operation.

'The conducting members 9 and 10 are preferably composed of a relatively high-resistance conducting material, such as carborunjdum. insulating fiuidin which they are disposed Flexible conducting members 11 and 12 are operatively connected to the contact members 9 and 10, respectively. Flexible strips 13. and 1 1 are attached, at one end of each, to drums 15.and 16, respectively, that are mounted on the shafts 7 and 8, and at the other end of each, to the respective ends of a yoke member 17. The spring 4.- is connected, at one of its ends, to the member 17 and, at its other end, to a stationary member 18. Thus, when the latching device 6 is operated, the spring 4: is adapted to turn the members 2 and 3 in opposite directions to gradually increase the resistance of the interrupter and to break the circuit in an inclosed receptacle without the necessity of displacing the insulating fluid therein.

The member 2 is provided with a projection 19 that is adapted to be engaged by the latch 20 of the tripping device 6. The device 6 is provided with a winding 21 that is adapted to actuate the latch 20 to release the projection 19 and, consequently, the contact members under predetermined conditions.

A transmission mechanism 22 is disposed between the shafts 7 and 8 for the purpose of causing the members 2 and 3 to turn in opposite directions when the operating handle 5 is actuated to close the interrupter.

IV hen the interrupter is being closed, the resistance incident to the contact members is gradually decreased until the members 2 and 3 assume positions shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. lVhen the members 2 and 3 have been turned to the positions shown in Fig. 1, the projection 19 is engaged by the latch 20.

It will be understood that all of the operating and latching mechanisms except the movable contact members may be located outside the oil-containing receptacle and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a circuit interrupter, the combination with an inclosed oil-containing receptacle, of two rotatable contact members adapted to cause no appreciable displacement of oil in the circuit-opening and circuit-closing movements and having their conducting portions of such varied crosssectional area that a relatively high resistance is inserted before they disengage.

2. In a circuit interrupter, the combination with an inclosed oil-containing receptacle, of two rotatable members adapted to cause no appreciable displacement of oil in the circuit-opening and circuit-closing movements and having cooperating conducting members of spiral shape disposed flush with the peripheries thereof.

3. A circuit interrupter comprising two rotatable members having engaging peripheries and cooperating contact members thereon constructed to gradually change the resistance of the circuit when the rotatable members are actuated.

41. In a circuit interrupter, the combination with an inclosed oil-containing recep tacle, 01" two cooperating.rotatable contact members adapted to cause no appreciable displacement of oil in the circuit-opening and circuit-closing movements and having cooperating conducting portions, said con ducting portions having such characteristies as to gradually vary the resistance in the circuit when the contact members are rotated.

5. In a circuit interrupter, the combination with a liquid-containing receptacle, of cooperating contact structures having one relative movement to effect contact-making engagement and a reverse relative movement to effect disengagement of the submerged contact surfaces thereof and being shaped and cooperatively related to effect an invariable displacement of the liquid in all positions and during all movements thereof.

6. Ina circuit interrupter, the combina tion with a fluid-containing receptacle, of cooperating contact structures having one relative movement to effect contact-making engagement and a reverse relative movement to effect disengagement thereof and having symmetrical contours, whereby no appreciable displacement of the fluid is eifected during said movements.

7. In a circuit interrupter, the combination with an oil-containing receptacle, of two drums adapted to engage one another under all conditions, and contact members disposed on said drums, said contact members being of such characteristics that resistance is gradually inserted before the contact members become disengaged.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 28th day of Oct. 1916.

CHARLES LE e. FoRTEscUE. 

